British News Agency

Sources said that following a significant buildup of air and naval forces in the Middle East in recent days, the White House has been informed that it could be ready for an attack by the end of the week.

However, one source noted that Trump has privately expressed views both in favor of and against military intervention and is consulting with his advisers and allies on the best course of action.

According to a person familiar with the meeting, senior administration national security officials gathered in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Iran. Trump was also briefed on Wednesday by special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner about the indirect talks they held with Iran the previous day. It is unclear whether Trump will make a decision by the weekend.

Iranian and U.S. negotiators exchanged notes for three and a half hours during indirect talks in Geneva on Tuesday but left without reaching a clear resolution. Iran’s chief negotiator said both sides had agreed on “a set of guiding principles,” while a U.S. official stated that “many details still remain to be discussed.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that Iran is expected to provide more details about its negotiating position “in the coming weeks,” but did not indicate whether Trump would rule out military action during that time. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to Israel on February 28 to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to brief him on the Iran talks, a State Department official told CNN on Wednesday.

These ambiguous statements have heightened fears of a military conflict between the two countries, even as officials appear to maintain hope for diplomacy. The USS Gerald Ford, the most advanced aircraft carrier group in the U.S. arsenal, could arrive in the region this weekend following other military deployments. According to sources familiar with the movements, U.S. Air Force elements stationed in the United Kingdom, including refueling tankers and fighter jets, are being repositioned closer to the Middle East.